mezzanine

noun

mez·​za·​nine ˈme-zə-ˌnēn How to pronounce mezzanine (audio)
ˌme-zə-ˈnēn
1
: a low-ceilinged story between two main stories of a building
especially : an intermediate story that projects in the form of a balcony
2
a
: the lowest balcony in a theater
b
: the first few rows of such a balcony

Examples of mezzanine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the mezzanine, young people alternately browsed and posed for Beatles-style photographs taken from below. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Plans call for a flat-floor performance space with a mezzanine and two balconies. — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026 This multipurpose staircase leads to a mezzanine, from which escalators lead directly to the fifth floor. — Sarah Belmont For Artnews, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026 Surveillance video then showed Campbell removing an item from his black crossbody bag and walking into the mezzanine again, prosecutors said. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mezzanine

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian mezzanino, from mezzano middle, from Latin medianus middle, median

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mezzanine was in 1711

Rhymes for mezzanine

See All Rhymes for mezzanine

Browse Nearby Words

mezza majolica
mezzanine
mezza orchestra
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mezzanine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mezzanine. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mezzanine

noun
mez·​za·​nine ˈmez-ᵊn-ˌēn How to pronounce mezzanine (audio)
ˌmez-ᵊn-ˈēn
1
: a story between two main stories of a building often in the form of a balcony
2
: the lowest balcony in a theater or its first few rows
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